Frank Lampard

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Yes I'm pretty sure every time he got dropped by AVB he accepted without fuss and just waited when he got another chance (you probably did not realize this was sarcasm)

And by the way, he is probably the least ideal because when we play it properly (not back to walls defending like matches against Barca and Bayern) because he lacks the most important function, discipline and balancing attacking and defensive duties

First of all, he was upset at being dropped by AVB, but so what? What do you want? Him to say "oh yes, I'm happy to be benched"? You want your players to be upset when they don't play. And second of all, he deserved to play. Lampard was one of our best players overall last season and he was being dropped for players who were much worse than he was. AVB was not fired because of Lampard, he was fired because Chelsea were losing. If Chelsea win, any coach can do what they want.

Second of all, you are flatly wrong. You simply cannot have a regista without creativity. It is the most important feature of the position. The entire set-up will not work otherwise. Discipline is important at every position but pretending that Lampard is some completely undisciplined player who attacks all the time and doesn't track back is just not true. In fact, our discipline in the attacking midfield (and Ivanovic so far this season) is much worse. You can look at this average position in the game and it is exactly where it should be. People just have this idea that his positioning is terrible and then look for his runs to criticize them. look at our goal versus Stoke. http://www.carefreec...pl-h-12-13.html Notice Lampard perfectly positioned defensively, then rushes up to join the play, is perfectly positioned to switch the play over and does so and Chelsea score. Nobody gave any credit to Lampard for that but that's exactly what his job is.

Lampard is just getting ridiculous levels of criticism that are just not true. As I said, he's not the ideal player for the regista position, but he is easily the best choice on the squad for it. RDM plays him there because he is aware of that not because he's scared of him.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

First of all, he was upset at being dropped by AVB, but so what? What do you want? Him to say "oh yes, I'm happy to be benched"? You want your players to be upset when they don't play. And second of all, he deserved to play. Lampard was one of our best players overall last season and he was being dropped for players who were much worse than he was. AVB was not fired because of Lampard, he was fired because Chelsea were losing. If Chelsea win, any coach can do what they want.

Second of all, you are flatly wrong. You simply cannot have a regista without creativity. It is the most important feature of the position. The entire set-up will not work otherwise. Discipline is important at every position but pretending that Lampard is some completely undisciplined player who attacks all the time and doesn't track back is just not true. In fact, our discipline in the attacking midfield (and Ivanovic so far this season) is much worse. You can look at this average position in the game and it is exactly where it should be. People just have this idea that his positioning is terrible and then look for his runs to criticize them. look at our goal versus Stoke. http://www.carefreec...pl-h-12-13.html Notice Lampard perfectly positioned defensively, then rushes up to join the play, is perfectly positioned to switch the play over and does so and Chelsea score. Nobody gave any credit to Lampard for that but that's exactly what his job is.

Lampard is just getting ridiculous levels of criticism that are just not true. As I said, he's not the ideal player for the regista position, but he is easily the best choice on the squad for it. RDM plays him there because he is aware of that not because he's scared of him.

1. But that does not mean you have to act like a massive twat, keep making slide comments in the media and using your influences in the dressing room to get what you want. Its like the last 10 years of unconditional support has got to his head and now thinks he should be treated like royalty.

2. How many times does this have to be drilled into your skull, both players in the double pivot have to be completely disciplined other wise the whole thing falls apart. They are the link between defense and attack and they are the ones that have to keep the ship steady. By all means you need creativity (but Lampard is not even that, yes he can give a good pass once in a while, but he is slow on his first and second touch, has very little place and can't take a lot of pressure in the midfield, someone like Romeu does these attributes better) but that does not mean you can make headless runs into the box every time the ball is in the opposition half (and not even go back when it looks like you won't be part of a potential attack) and completely ignore you defensive duties making us incredibly vulnerable to counter attacks. Watch the Athletico game, nearly every time we manage to get the ball upfront he was up there in the box demanding the ball in a vain attempt to score, warping the midfield and contributed to us being ripped apart. Not to mention it gets in the away of the three attacking midfielders (its their job to do it, let them get on with it). These issues have been mentioned time and time again and you just brush them off like they are some sort of small tiny inconvenience.

Christ on a fucking bike.

[Kojo 4,676]

No, so we can get rid of te double pivot that will ruin our season.

We should sign Freddy Drogba, that will do us IMO.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

1. But that does not mean you have to act like a massive twat, keep making slide comments in the media and using your influences in the dressing room to get what you want. Its like the last 10 years of unconditional support has got to his head and now thinks he should be treated like royalty.

2. How many times does this have to be drilled into your skull, both players in the double pivot have to be completely disciplined other wise the whole thing falls apart. They are the link between defense and attack and they are the ones that have to keep the ship steady. By all means you need creativity (but Lampard is not even that, yes he can give a good pass once in a while, but he is slow on his first and second touch, has very little place and can't take a lot of pressure in the midfield, someone like Romeu does these attributes better) but that does not mean you can make headless runs into the box every time the ball is in the opposition half (and not even go back when it looks like you won't be part of a potential attack) and completely ignore you defensive duties making us incredibly vulnerable to counter attacks. Watch the Athletico game, nearly every time we manage to get the ball upfront he was up there in the box demanding the ball in a vain attempt to score, warping the midfield and contributed to us being ripped apart. Not to mention it gets in the away of the three attacking midfielders (its their job to do it, let them get on with it). These issues have been mentioned time and time again and you just brush them off like they are some sort of small tiny inconvenience.

Christ on a fucking bike.

1) Lampard did not act like a massive twat. It's nice that you buy into the anti-Chelsea media though.

2) Saying Lampard is not creative is just stupid. He was statistically the 7th most creative player in the entire Premier league last season. I don't ignore Lampard's defensive duties at all. He has them. What you and other have consistently ignored is that a lot of the pressure on the midfield often comes from the attacking players not properly doing their jobs. People look at the Juventus game and say "the central midfield was overrun" but it was overrun because it was outnumbered all the time. You just want to pin all the blame on Lampard (and maybe Mikel) and it's ridiculous. The issues have been mentioned again and again because even before the pre-season people decided that the double-pivot was the problem (because we didn't buy anyone new to play there and don't have a 21-year old in the spot) and they watched the games to confirm that. It isn't perfect at all, but it isn't nearly the big problem people want to pretend it is. People like you just turn to the same "double-pivot" problem that doesn't exist every time. We don't score? Well, it's because Lampard doesn't move the ball quickly enough. We do score? Nothing to do with Lampard of course. We concede a goal? The double-pivot is at fault? We don't concede a goal? Nothing to do with the double-pivot. See how easy it is?

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

1) Lampard did not act like a massive twat. It's nice that you buy into the anti-Chelsea media though.

2) Saying Lampard is not creative is just stupid. He was statistically the 7th most creative player in the entire Premier league last season. I don't ignore Lampard's defensive duties at all. He has them. What you and other have consistently ignored is that a lot of the pressure on the midfield often comes from the attacking players not properly doing their jobs. People look at the Juventus game and say "the central midfield was overrun" but it was overrun because it was outnumbered all the time. You just want to pin all the blame on Lampard (and maybe Mikel) and it's ridiculous. The issues have been mentioned again and again because even before the pre-season people decided that the double-pivot was the problem (because we didn't buy anyone new to play there and don't have a 21-year old in the spot) and they watched the games to confirm that. It isn't perfect at all, but it isn't nearly the big problem people want to pretend it is. People like you just turn to the same "double-pivot" problem that doesn't exist every time. We don't score? Well, it's because Lampard doesn't move the ball quickly enough. We do score? Nothing to do with Lampard of course. We concede a goal? The double-pivot is at fault? We don't concede a goal? Nothing to do with the double-pivot. See how easy it is?

So what about all the slide comments to media, especially the one where he out right says there was tension between him and AVB (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26022012/58/premier-league-lampard-admits-avb-problems.html), unlike you I don't take this stupid motion held by some that there is some great world Conspiracy that is out to get the club. Lampard said this at the height of speculation, meaning he was doing it to score points or is a complete idiot.

Also, have you actually watched the matches. The likes of Hazard, Moses and Mata constantly go back to help the fullbacks when we are on the back foot. Not to mention that Oscar goes deep in the midfield to get the ball and help relieve pressure. In fact a few times I have seen the likes of Hazard and Mata having to drop back in order to accommodate Lampard because he keeps going far in the opposition n half. So this idea that the 3 attacking players don't do any defensive work is complete crap. Its not their prioritized job, Lampard is suppose to help with defensive duties first, he can't do this, therefor he is not suited t this double pivot, he ignores those duties and is too slow to be a deep lying play maker.

I'm done with this stupid conversation, nothing will change it will be the same posts over and over again with you bringing up the arguments.

[BOSS 372]

Hopefully Lampard wasnt rested for Arsenal yesterday. Lamps is good but we need pace in the double pivot vs Arsenal.

[Las7 951]

Lampard should be playing in front of the double pivot - when he does play. Play Romeu; Ramires and Mikel in the double pivot Lamps/Oscar/Mata in the position in front of it. Lampard could have played in the double pivot in his prime - but he was simply more effective in a position that gave him more attacking freedom.

I still feel Frank has things he can give to this club but more in a Giggs or Scholes role, if he has problems being mostly a substitute or not playing he can move on.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

I don't see where he fits into the team anymore. Ramires, Mikel and even Romeu are better and/or more suited to the Double Pivots. In attacking areas, well you know the story there. We should play our best team and opt for the better and younger options as we are transitioning as a team. Lampard shouldn't (in an ideal world) start based on Status alone and to appease some fans. Taking this into account, he wouldn't be getting many starts. This has to be his last season IMO or even until January where we may buy a CM. Than next season we can use Josh and/of KDB in CM. All set up for Pep, seemingly.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Hopefully Lampard wasnt rested for Arsenal yesterday. Lamps is good but we need pace in the double pivot vs Arsenal.

Actually he has an ankle injury according to Eddie; he's a doubt for Arsenal.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

So, Ramires is a chance to play in the pivot? Great

[AndersonBLUE 819]

A little bump for Frank. I feel it was a good decision to leave him on the bench, Ramires's energy was really helpful in that position (his best I feel) and paired nicely with Mikel. What role will Frank have in games? Would he be good enough further up the pitch?

[Muzchap 8,966]

Impact sub, or against weaker teams...

Not his fault AGE respects fuck all and is relentless!

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

He'll still play plenty. RDM is very tactical so I assume Ramires will play in games where he wants to clog up the middle of the pitch and Lampard in games where he wants to attack more. (In other words, I think Ramires will start mostly in games where we use the Mata/Hazard/Oscar front 3 and Lampard if we use wingers.)

[Sheva. 5,373]

Weird that there's almost nothing in the media about Lampard not starting or even playing today, normally if he doesn't play it's such a big deal lol. And in such a big game too.

[Jase 43,479]

Weird that there's almost nothing in the media about Lampard not starting or even playing today, normally if he doesn't play it's such a big deal lol. And in such a big game too.

Have to thank Arsenal's poor defending (again) on set pieces.

[Land 331]

He migh have stayed on the bench because of his injury,I wouldnt be surprised if rdm returns with the defensive winger formation and lamps on the double pivot.

[Blue Armour 4,334]

Weird that there's almost nothing in the media about Lampard not starting or even playing today, normally if he doesn't play it's such a big deal lol. And in such a big game too.

Well, most of the attention was on Terry today..when he's in the spotlight, everything else tends to take a backseat.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

He'll be back for the FCN game on Tuesday and no doubt score!